Presentation – CVC2026-646

“Little Libraries” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

Sharynne McLeod, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Emily-Jane Woodhead, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Sarah Bartlett, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Jamie Newman, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Australia

Marie-Christine Sweeney, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Australia

Carolyn Gregoric, Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Background: A rural Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) invited speech pathology researchers to develop resources for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. In the research exploratory phase, an acceptable context-specific children’s booklist was co-created.

Aim: Following an earlier research development phase, community access to the children’s book resources was to be co-implemented and co-evaluated.

Method/approach: Ethical approval was gained from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council. Elders (n=≈20) and children (n=8) from community completed evaluations of the children’s books. Evaluations identified a need for community access to the books, coining the term “Little Libraries”. Consequently, “Little Libraries” (n=4) were collated and placed on display bookshelves in four ACCHO locations for optimal access. Two months later, ACCHO staff (n=46) completed written surveys evaluating “Little Libraries” for their strength and further suggestions.

Results/findings: The responses were strong and supportive. Most of the ACCHO staff had seen the “Little Libraries” (84.8%); most thought that the books would be read (78.7%); and a very high number strongly agreed that “reading to children is important”. Feedback also supported that “Little Libraries” support children’s literacy skills, cultural knowledge, engagement with books and connection to culture. Future recommendations for “Little Libraries” suggested expansion, promotion and support to maintain the books would be valued.

Conclusion: A co-design approach to developing children’s resources, such as “Little Libraries”, created an opportunity to support engagement and connection with culture, communication, and literacy practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and community.

Implications for children and families: Building access to children’s book resources that respect families’ culture through a trusted service provider.

Implications for practitioners: This implementation project has findings specific to one Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service, yet provides an overview of an important process for co-planning, co-implementing, and co-evaluating when establishing any new service.

Funding: This work was funded by a grant to the Charles Sturt University Rural Health Research Institute from the Commonwealth of Australia, represented by the Department of Health (Grant Activity 4-DGEJZ1O/4-CW7UT14).

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children’s books, literature, resources

This presentation relates to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: